Device for use in the manufacture of boots or shoes



Dec. 30, 1930. w. A. JOHNSON DEVICE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOOTS OR SHOES Filed June 6, 1929 Patented Dec. 3%, 1939 PATENT WILLIAM A. JOHNSON, 0F MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNDR T0 VIOODBJRY SHOE IVIEG. C0,, 01* DER-RY, NEW HAMPSHIRE, A (10320311 10 T OF El i-W HAMPSHIRE DEVICE FOR U$E IN THE BEANUFACTUBE OF BOOTS 0E SHQES Application filed June 6, 1929. Serial No. 368,838.

My present invention relates to a device for use in the manufacture of boots or shoes, and has particular reference to a device for use in carrying outthe novel step described and claimed in my copending application Ser. No. 368,839, filed June 6, 1929, wherein the shoe upper materials, or parts thereof, are constructed of interwoven materials.

Heretofore in the manufacture of these interwoven upper materials, various methods have been practiced. One of these has consisted in preparing entire sheets of material, slitting the same, and then weaving strips of material through alternate rows of slits. Thereupon the upper materials would he died or cut out from these sheets. A serious disadvantage in this method has been the distortion of the sheet material due to handling large sheets and weaving the interlaced strips therethrough. It is also a slow method of manufacture. Another method has been to first die out the upper materials, slot the same, and the operator then holds the upper material in one hand, and weaves a needle through the slots with the other hand, the strip of material trailing the needle as it is pulled through the slots. This method is slow, expensive, cumbersome and results in distorted upper materials. These disadvantages are due to the lightness of the upper material, and to the fact that the operator is unable to utilize but one hand to hold the material, utilizing the other hand to feed the needle through the prepared slots.

The present invention relates specifically and particularly to a novel device to enable the carrying out or practice of the method or step defined in said copending application, and obviates the difficulties and disadprior methods with other devices. By the use of my novel device an'operator is enabled to double, and more than double, the production of such interwoven pieces.

My present invention comprises a support, such as a block, positioned preferably in front I of an operator, and to this block is rigidly fixed one end of a needle-like member, with its free end projecting away from said block.

as 1 preferably construct this needle of varying cause of the fact that both hands are free to grasp the work, the operator is enabled to accomplish this weaving of the upper material onto the fixed needle in a very rapid and eflicient manner, without undue distortion of the said material. As the material is worked onto the needle, it is pushed over the thickened portion thereof, which opens up the slits therein to the desired extent. While I- have illustrated the needle of the'present application as round in cross-section, it will be appreciated that I am not limited thereto, but may utilize a needle having any cross-sectional shape, so long as said shape will enable the successful carrying out of my said novel method. The free end of the needle is provided with suitable holding means, and to this free end of the needle is afiixed a strip of material of the right length to traverse the width of the piece of upper material being operated upon, The operator then again grasps the upper material in both hands,and

pulls it 05 and away from the needle, this operation resulting in pulling the said upper piece over the aforesaid strip and positioning said strip in said slits. When the piece of upper material is free of the needle, the operator frees the strip from the holding means on the free end of the needle and repeatsthe operation until all of the rows of slits in the piece of upper material are provided with a I strip of desired material. vantages encountered through practmmg The resulting piece of upper material is substantially free from distortion and is in readiness for the next step in the process of manufacturing without further treatment except trimming of the ends of said. strips.

The piece of upper material illustrated in the drawing of this application is a so-called moccasin tongue, but it will be appreciated that this is for illustrative purposes only,

and that the-operation is equally as efliciently til) and successfully practiced 011 other portions of the upper materials which it is desired to treat in this manner.

As mentioned above, by this novel, and important, step, and by the use of my novel device, the operator is enabled to speed up production of the upper materials during this phase of the manufacture double and more than double. This results in an increased output of the shoe factory, in a less expensive shoe, due to the great saving in time required, and at the same time results in a neat and attractive woven upper.

I believe that the device illustrated and described in this application is novel, particularly for the purpose intended, and have therefore claimed the same broadly in the present application.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating my novel device in use, and with a part of the upper materials completely threaded on the needle and pushed over the portion of increased diameter to open the slots;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the said part of upper material withdrawn from the needle, illustrating the drawing of the upper material over the stri and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the needle, with the support and table illustrated in cross-section.

It will be appreciated that I may rigidly atlix one end of the needle directly to the table, without the use of a separate support, but believe that the use of the separate support is desirable because of the increased facility of operation accorded to the operator by the addition of said support.

Referring now to the drawings, for a particular description of the invention, its construction and utility, 1 designates a table, bench or the like, to which block or support 2 is secured by screws 3 or other securing instrument-alities. Said support 2 is provided with a groove 4 in which one end 5 of a needle-like member is rigidly fixed by staples 6 or in any other suitable manner. If desired. of course, the groove 4 could be formed directly in the table 1, but from actual practice I do not believe that this would be as convenient or accessible for the operator. The end 5 of the needle is of considerably greater thickness than the forward or free end 7, tapering, at 8, to said. reduced portion 7.

The free end of the needle is provided with a. holding means, such as a book 9, a latch 10 being pivoted at 11, the reduced portion 7 having a depression 12 to receive said latch when not in engagement with the hook. 9. This form of holding device is optional, being shown herein for illustrative purposes only, and I and not limited to \D this piece 13 to the tree end of the needle, and

this form, it being within the range of my invention to utilize any desired holding means.

To carry out my invention, the operator grasps in both hands, a piece or part of upper materials, such as the tongue 13, through which has been punched or died sl he operator theas illustrated in Fin. 1, applies threads said piece onto said needle, pushing; said piece over the beveled portion 8 onto the thickened end 5 of said needle. This opens the slots 14 to the desired extent. 'llhercupon the operator picks up a strip 15, at aches o'- end thereof to the hook 9, and clo the larc 10. This strip 15 is of slightly greater len t than the width of the piece being opci on, so to leave but a. very small, it any, tension of? the strip 15 on either do of the piece 13. Again grasping the pieceor portion 13 in both hands, the operator draws said piece ed and away from the needle a sufficient distance to permit releasing of the strip 15. This enables the strips 15 to he threaded or woven into the piece 13 without material distortion of said piece, resulting in a. neatly woven upper portion.

lVhen all of the strips 15 requisite or desirable for the particular piece 13 being operated upon have been positioned, the operator then trims the ends of the strips 15 extending beyond the periphery of the piece 13 and the said piece or portion 13 is then ready for assembly with the other upper materials. The purpose of the latch 10 is to prevent the edges of the slits 1 L catching in the hook 9 the part 13 is withdrawn from the needle. It will be appreciated, however, that other forms of hook or holding means may be provided which will fulfill this purpose equally as efliciently.

The simplicity utility, elliciency, time and labor saving of my novel device will be instantly apparent to those skilled in this art.

While I have necessarily described my present invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that I may vary the size, shape and arrangement of parts within reasonably wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention.

While I have described my novel device in this application as particularly adapted to carrying out the novel. step of my said co pend ing application as applied to shoe appe materials, it will be appreciated that thi. for

illustrative purposes only, and that tne device per se is applicable to the manufacture 01:: other articles than boots and shoes. For

example, this device has been used Witl facility, illC-lIiCfJ and sna of op not upon such articles as pocketbooks, parsesand portions of articles of clothing, and it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention extends to and 'i-iclndes the amnafactare of any article in which strips of 1' equal material are positioned or combined to pro- My invention is further described and dc fined in the form of a claim as follows:

A needie for the purpose set forth com prising an elongated body portion of uniform cross sectional shape and area throughout its effective length, arelatively short extension of reduced cross sectional area at an end of said body portion, a connecting portion joining said extension with said body portion, said connecting portion flaring from said extension toward said body portion and having the same sectional shape and areav at the points Where it joins said extension and sail body portion as said extension and said body portion at said joints, respectively, and means carried by said extension for attaching a strip thereto, the maximum transverse dimension of said extension and the attachingmeans carried thereby being no greater than the minimum transverse dimension of said body portion.

in testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM A. JOHNSON. 

